Published: Friday, November 30, 2012 at 7:17 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 30, 2012 at 1:36 p.m.

MULBERRY | In her situation, most people would see only the burnt shell of a house and all their possessions gone up in flames. Vonita Williams sees a blessing.

Williams, 57, managed to escape the fire that raged through her home at 1008 Second St. SE in Mulberry in the predawn hours Friday. She did so along with her 81-year-old mother, two daughters, the boyfriend of one of the daughters and four grandchildren.

The home is a total loss.

"Toys and clothes and furniture and all that stuff can be replaced," she said. "But you can't replace children. Of course, this is devastating. But we're all still here. We're blessed."

Sometime shortly before 4:30 a.m., Sheka Williams, 35, woke up breathing smoke and began yelling to alert the others. She could not be reached later for comment — her cellphone was one of the many casualties of the fire.

Williams said the fire spread from her mother's room. The mother doesn't smoke and there were no space heaters on in the house, Williams said. Williams said she believed faulty wiring under the house was the culprit.

Fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.

As the house still smol-dered hours later, Williams' daughter Chrystal Williams, 31, said she was shocked awake.

She said she tried to douse the fire with a big bowl of water. "But it was too late," Chrystal Williams said.

"I saved my purse and two children."

Sa'Vaunn Bond, 18, was the oldest of Williams' four grandchildren in the house. He said he woke fast and got a bucket of water to douse the fire, but he, too, was too late.

"It caught really fast," Bond said.

The family has been given three nights at a motel by the American Red Cross to begin its recovery.

Williams is clearly the heart and soul of her family.

She said she lost all of her possessions in the fire. She said she most treasured the photos of her late husband, which were burned with everything else. But still she managed to see the bright side of things.

"There will always be a picture of him in my mind," Williams said. "That will never go away."

"God has gotten me through a lot," Williams said. "He'll get me through this, too."

Williams said the house, which is owned by her aunt, Eartha Smith, was insured.

Neighbors have opened a bank account for donations for the family.

Donations may be sent to the Williams Family Fund at Magnify Credit Union, 1010 N. Church Ave., Mulberry, FL., 33860. The account number is 5014300. The routing number is 263180990.

<p>MULBERRY | In her situation, most people would see only the burnt shell of a house and all their possessions gone up in flames. Vonita Williams sees a blessing.</p><p>Williams, 57, managed to escape the fire that raged through her home at 1008 Second St. SE in Mulberry in the predawn hours Friday. She did so along with her 81-year-old mother, two daughters, the boyfriend of one of the daughters and four grandchildren.</p><p>The home is a total loss.</p><p>"Toys and clothes and furniture and all that stuff can be replaced," she said. "But you can't replace children. Of course, this is devastating. But we're all still here. We're blessed."</p><p>Sometime shortly before 4:30 a.m., Sheka Williams, 35, woke up breathing smoke and began yelling to alert the others. She could not be reached later for comment — her cellphone was one of the many casualties of the fire.</p><p>Williams said the fire spread from her mother's room. The mother doesn't smoke and there were no space heaters on in the house, Williams said. Williams said she believed faulty wiring under the house was the culprit.</p><p>Fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.</p><p>As the house still smol-dered hours later, Williams' daughter Chrystal Williams, 31, said she was shocked awake.</p><p>She said she tried to douse the fire with a big bowl of water. "But it was too late," Chrystal Williams said.</p><p>"I saved my purse and two children."</p><p>Sa'Vaunn Bond, 18, was the oldest of Williams' four grandchildren in the house. He said he woke fast and got a bucket of water to douse the fire, but he, too, was too late.</p><p>"It caught really fast," Bond said.</p><p>The family has been given three nights at a motel by the American Red Cross to begin its recovery.</p><p>Williams is clearly the heart and soul of her family.</p><p>She said she lost all of her possessions in the fire. She said she most treasured the photos of her late husband, which were burned with everything else. But still she managed to see the bright side of things.</p><p>"There will always be a picture of him in my mind," Williams said. "That will never go away."</p><p>"God has gotten me through a lot," Williams said. "He'll get me through this, too."</p><p>Williams said the house, which is owned by her aunt, Eartha Smith, was insured.</p><p>Neighbors have opened a bank account for donations for the family.</p><p>Donations may be sent to the Williams Family Fund at Magnify Credit Union, 1010 N. Church Ave., Mulberry, FL., 33860. The account number is 5014300. The routing number is 263180990.</p>